Maoists blow up culvert in Bengal

KOLKATA - Maoists triggered a landmine blast and blew up a culvert in West Bengal’s West Midnapore district early Friday, police said.

“A portion of the culvert between Satpati and Pirakata area was blown up by the Maoists early Friday. The culvert, which was on the metalled road that connects Midnapore with Lalgarh, was badly damaged,” West Midnapore’s Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma said.

The incident took place 18 km away from Midnapore town and two km away from the joint forces’ camp located in Pirakata.

No one was injured in the incident but the transport system was badly affected.

“The Maoists triggered the landmine in the culvert to cut off Lalgarh area from the rest of the district. The intensity of the blast was so huge that the villagers staying some two-three km away from the spot also heard the sound of the explosion,” a police officer said.

“A police team has reached the spot and investigation has been initiated,” he added.

The Maoists are active in the three western districts of West Bengal - West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura.